Ray’s Impressive Performance Leads Giants to Victory

ATLANTA — More than 18 hours after Adrian Houser delivered the last pitch of the first inning, Robbie Ray kicked off the second inning early Wednesday afternoon with an impressive start at a less-than-full Truist Park.

Ray’s outing was just the beginning of a strong game.

His 6 1/3 innings of scoreless pitching contributed to a 7-2 win, marking only the fifth time he has come in as a relief pitcher during the regular season. Initially, it seemed like a no-hitter would be out of reach.

Originally slated to start Game 2 of the scheduled series, Ray was moved up following a lengthy rain delay that postponed the first game. When he threw his first pitch, the Giants were already ahead 3-2, having taken the lead the night before.

Ray held Atlanta hitless until the seventh inning, showcasing a remarkable turnaround after a tough outing early Tuesday when Houser allowed two runs, including a 473-foot home run.

Though the Braves had stacked their lineup with left-handed hitters before facing Hauser, it was Ray’s day to shine. The Giants’ offense continued where it had left off, connecting against Grant Holmes during the delay and putting three runs on the board.

Rafael Devers, John Foo Lee, and Willie Adames all contributed solo homers, with Ray pitching comfortably ahead for most of the game. Devers notched his tenth hit of the season in the fifth inning, while Lee scored twice to push the lead to 5-2. Adames further padded the score with another solid hit in the eighth inning.

What It Means

Ray’s strong performance allowed the Giants to head into the second half of the doubleheader with fewer worries about their pitching situation. However, they were faced with some challenges elsewhere. Manager Tony Vitello tried to summon Caleb Killian as a new closer but had to adjust plans when Dylan Smith struggled, issuing two walks before bringing in his closer with a five-run cushion.

Who Is Hot

Despite allowing five runs in his last start, Ray appeared to be on the upswing, having no walks in his longest outing in a month. He built upon that progress against the Braves, with only two runners reaching base before Austin Riley’s double in the seventh. Relying more on sinkers rather than four-seamers, Ray recorded a career-high eight strikeouts during his 15 innings pitched this season.

Who Is Not?

Adames hadn’t hit a home run in over a week, and his recent performance with just one hit in 31 at-bats added to the pressure. Similarly, Devers’ second homer of June came with a low batting average of .161, making it tough for them to shake off their underwhelming performances given their hefty contracts. The Giants are said to be considering offers for these high-paid yet struggling players.

To the Next

Following a brief intermission, it was time for the second game of the doubleheader. Both teams had the opportunity to add a 27th player to their roster, and the Giants intended to use Carson Whisenhunt’s slot for his first start of the season against regular Braves pitcher J.R. Ritchie. Whisenhunt had a solid performance in May, going 5-2 with a 3.65 ERA, solidifying his place in the lineup.